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4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

(No Model.)

T. L. 'McKEEN. VESTIBULE FOR RAILWAY (JARS.

Patented June 27, 1893.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. L. MOKEEN. VESTIBULE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

PatentedJun'e Z, 1893- THE "cams PETERS so. mom-unto. wunlu'u'mn. mv c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. MOKEEN, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ISAAC G. JOHNSON & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

VESTIBULE FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,413, dated June 27, 1893.

Application filed February 21, 1893. Serial No, 463,175. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. MCKEEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vestibules for Railway-Oars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the ends of a railway car with its vestibule, showing my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the movable faceplate, detached from the vestibule. Fig. 3 is horizontal sectional view on line cc0c in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partlyin section, of the lower end of the movable face-plate, showing its connection to the buffer. Fig. 5 is a top view or plan of the outer end of the buffer which engages the movable face-plate. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the automatic gravity-yoke which connects the movable faceplate of the vestibule to the rigid or immovable back-plate of the vestibule frame. Fig. 7 is a top view of the jointed middle part of the same device. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View, in horizontal section, showing the folding sides of the vestibule sides or covering as these appear when extended; and Fig. 9 is a similar view of the same part as it appears when folded together.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to the construction of vestibules for passenger coaches, sleeping cars, &c., and has for its objects to cause, at all times and under all conditions, a close and tight fit or joint between the face-plates of the connecting vestibules of adjacent cars; to prevent outward bulging of the flexible vestibule sides; to provide a simple and yet strong connection or coupling between the movable face-plate of the vestibule and the buffer; and to reduce the friction (more especially in turning sharp curves) between the 5 face-plates of adjacent cars.

WVith these several objects in view, my improvement resides in the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of the various parts comprising the vestibule and its adjuncts and attachments, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, the letter A denotes the body of a railway car, B the door of its vestibule, O the folding sides of the vestibule-coupling or extension, of any suitable flexible fabric, and D the movable face-plate or front frame of the latter. Thisface-plate should be about six inches in width, except at its lower ends, where it is broadened to a width of about ten inches on each side, as shown at D, for the purpose of preventing the lower ends of contiguous face-plates to overlap and interlock or catch with each other, as sometimes will happen in turning sharp curves. By widening the lower ends of the two legs or sides of the face-plate as shown, a bearing, D, of sufficient width is formed to prevent the meeting ends of adjacent face-plates to slip past or by each other, so that in turning curves they will merely slide upon or against each other, without passing and becoming twisted or interlocked. This lower enlarged end D of each of the legs of the face-plate is beveled on the under side, as shown at d, and has, above the bevel, a horizontally projecting flange or web, E havinga vertical aperture 6 for the insertion of the bolt 01' pin, F, by which the legs of the face-plate are fastened in the buffers G. The latter may be of any approved construction; for example, constructed and arranged as described and claimed in my Patent No.302,512, dated July 22, 1884, with or without the improvements subsequently invented by me and described in my two patcuts of January 31 and February 7, 1893, respectively. In any case, whether my patented buffer is used or any other pattern, the front end of the buffer-head, G, has to be beveled or inclined at its upper edge, as shown at g, at an angle corresponding to the bevel or incline of the beveled under side d of the feet D of the face-plate, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4.

The buffer G, at a point registering with the aperture e in the rearwardly extending and overlapping web or projection E, has an oblong vertical aperture f, for the insertion of the fastening-bolt F; the object in making this aperture oblong, instead of round, being to give the bolt Fsuflicient play or movement, forward and back, in turning sharp curves.

The outer edges of the movable face-plate D are connected to the outer edges of the inner stationary frame II, (which is of the same general shape and dimensions as the faceplate, but without its enlarged beveled feet D) by a series of three or more yokes, I, on each side, of the construction shown more clearly in the enlarged detail-views Figs. 6 and 7. Each of these yokes consists of two arms, J and J, hinged at their outer ends in lugs or cars, j andj, bolted to or made integrally with the plates D and II respectively, and having squared shoulders, h and h, limiting their downward motion by hearing against the sides of the lugs in which they are pivoted. The inner or meeting ends of arms J and J are hinged together by a pin or bolt K, and are cut away to form shoulders L and recesses M, which fit into and impinge upon each other so as to limit downward motion of said arms at the middle part or hinge of the yoke. Upon the projecting ends of the bolt or pivot K is hinged the arms, N N, of the bifurcated upper end of a rod 0, the lower end of which carries a weight, P, the tendency of which is to draw the innerends of the jointed arms J and'J in a downward direction and thus expand or extend the yoke laterally so as to force the frames or plates D and H apart. Downward play or motion of the yoke arms J and J is, however, limited (as we have seen) by the outer stops or shoulders h and h in conjunction with the inner hinge-stops L and M, so that, normally, the yoke will be in the position illustrated in full-line in the drawings. But when,in turning curves for example, the folding and flexible sides 0 of the vestibule extension are compressed on one side, the arms of the yoke will rise in the middle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, to permit of the pushing back of that side of the outer movable face-plate D against or in the direction of the inner stationary frame H. The moment pressure on the faceplate is released, however, the weights P on that side of the vestibule will force the yoke arms outward again, causing them to resume their normal extended position and thus bringing the face-plates of adjacent cars close together and maintaining them in that position. In other words, one of the functions of the weighted or gravity yokes is to force the face-plates of the flexible vestibule extensions outwardly from the end of the car, so that the face-plates of adjacent cars will always abut or fit closely against each other at all times and under all conditions as long as the cars remain coupled.

Another function of the weighted yokes I is to cause pressure in a downward direction on the sides of the movable face-plate, so that the inclined or beveled lower ends D d of the same will he brought to bear against the beveled or inclined front sideg of the buffer, causing close contact to be maintained between the buffer and lower ends of the faceplate, as illustrated in Fig. 4. At the same time, the elongated slot f in the buffer permits the pin or bolt F, by which the legs of the movable faceplate are coupled to the buffer, to have sufficient play or movement to let the faceplate yield or give somewhat in turning sharp curves, so that it will readily and automatically adjust itself to the face-plates of connecting cars and thereby avoid undue strain both on the buffers and face-plates.

Having in the foregoing described the construction of the movable face-plate and its combination with, and arrangement relative to, the gravity-yokes and the buffer, I shall now proceed to describe the means whereby I prevent the outward bulging of the flexible sides 0 of the vestibule covering when these are compressed by the forcing together of the frames D and H which form, respectively, the outer and inner supports for the flexible sides or walls for the vestibule extension or coupling. To accomplish this, I fasten to one of the arms, J or J of the uppermost yoke I a thin but strong wire cable, Q, and pass the same in a downward direction, and parallel to the sides of the face-plate, through a series of eyelets or eye-bolts, R, which are firmly riveted to the canvas or rubber sides 0 of the vestibule at the points where the inner folds 0 occur, as shown more clearly in the detail views Figs. 8 and 9. These eyelets R are arranged in vertical rows, one above the other, on both sides of the yokes (see Fig. 1), and the wire cable Q, after passing through the lowermost eyelet in one of the rows, is passed horizontally through an eye, R, fastened to or formed in a plate S, which is attached to the bottom of the face-plate D, and which has another eye R for the insertion of the wire cable. After passing horizontally through both eyes R and R at the bottom of the vestibule, the cable Q is again carried in an upward direction, parallel to its other side, and through a corresponding vertical series of eyelets R on that side, until, after passing through the uppermost eyelet in the row, it is securely fastened to the arm of the top yoke on that side. Normally-that is to say, when the sides are in their extended position, as when the train is running straight ahead on a straight piece of road without curves-the wire cable has suflicient slack in it not to interfere with the extended folds of the sides; but when (in turning a curve, for example, or in suddenly stopping the train) the movable face-plate is pushed back, thereby compressing the folds of the flexible sides, the middle part of the yokes will rise; and the arms of the uppermost yoke to which the ends of the cable Q are attached, thus rising, will pull upon the cable at both ends with the effect of drawing it taut and thereby also draw or pull the folds c of the flexible sides inwardly, as represented in Fig. 9 thus effectually preventing all outward bulging without in the least interfering with the smooth and even operation of folding or extending said sides to conform to the movementof the faceplates. By these devices, it will be observed that I have improved the construction of vestibules for railway-cars in several important particulars without adding appreciably to the cost. While the connection between the impinging face-plates of adjacent cars will always be close, yet I avoid undue friction between them with its resultant wear and tear; the connection of the face-plate to the buffers is such as to form a tight joint, also without undue strain or friction and permit-.

ting of almost instantaneous disconnection or uncoupling; and by my provision for preventing bulging of the flexible sides I not only add greatly to the neat and attractive appearance of the vestibule, hall or extension, both from the outside and inside, but I increase considerably the life of the canvas or rubber covering by preventing the folds from doubling or creasing in opposite directions, which is sure to soon destroy even the strongest fabric.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A face-plate for flexible vestibule extensions or couplings having its lower ends enlarged laterally and having said enlarged ends or feet beveled on the under side and provided with a rearwardly extending apertured web or flange; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the buffer having an inclined or beveled face and an oblong vertical aperture, the face-plate beveled on its under side to,correspond to the bevel on the buffer and having a rearwardly extending overlapping apertured web or flange, and the coupling pin or bolt connecting the faceplate to the bufier; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the flexible vestibule sides, the movable face-plate constructed as described, the stationary or inner vestibule frame, the gravity yokes, the beveled and apertured buffer, and the coupling-pin connecting the face-plate movably to the buffer; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with the movable faceplate D and inner rigid frame-plate H of the hinged connecting arms J and J having shouldered stops at both ends to limit their downward movement and provided at their jointed ends with a weighted rod 0; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the flexible vestibule sides, the movable faceplate, the gravity yokes, and the wire cable running through eyelets affixed to the folds of the flexible sides; substantially'as and. for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with the flexible and folding sides of the vestibule, of a wire cable confined within eyelets fastened in the folds of the movable sides and having both ends attached to opposite sides or arms of the uppermost hinged gravity-yoke; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with the gravity-yokes and the flexible and folding sides of the vestibule having eyelets or eyebolts affixed to its folds in two vertical rows, of the wire cable running through said eyelets in two parallel strands and through immovable guide-eyes at the bottom of the vestibule, and having its upper opposite ends connected to the arms of the upper yoke on opposite sides of its hinged or articulated center; substantially as and for the purpose'set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS L. MOKEEN.

Witnesses:

O. HAscALL, JAMES A. PATRICK. 

